VW Tharu Review
Volkswagen Philippines recently gave us the keys to their latest VW Tharu for the weekend. As an owner of the T-Cross, I was very much exited to see if it is indeed a good upgrade. Does it have all the things I wished the T-cross has? Here is my initial review for the Tharu, and hope it helps prospective buyers with their decision making.
Background:
The Tharu is actually the twin sibling of the Volkswagen Taos (US market vehicle). It is slightly smaller than a Tiguan (by just a few cm) and is slated above the T-cross in terms of size and functions. Yes this is a China market vehicle, but I would say it still has that German quality and feel.
Initial Impressions:
So I took a quick drive around town over the weekend to see what this car can offer. Loaded the two children's car seats with ease (thanks to the very spacious rear seats) and got out for the much needed city drive.
lots of space at the back
The first thing I noticed is of course the interior. A lot more leather and soft plastics compared to the T-cross. the Demo unit we used had a rather quirky blue interior. To be honest I'm not a fan, it's a bit too boyish for me. But I have seen the interior of the white Tharu which was actually more conservatively black with a touch of rose gold. But some like the blue leather, so really it's a matter of personal preference. It's nice to see an interior that reminds us of the full leather golf and Jettas circa 2018.
The seats were comfier compared to the T-cross as well. Those who miss the adjustable headrest would prefer the Tharu seats.
Not really a fan of the Blue
No more quirky interior, finally we have a handrail for the passengers and also interior dome lights for the rear. Both were missing badly on the T-cross.
Great space
The exterior of the car I really liked. Finally, less chrome and more blacks, which reminds me of the VW R-line variants. The front looks more aggressive compared to the older VWs. Still not too flashy like how Chinese and Korean cars are designed, but they're not vanilla looking either. My only gripe is the red accents on the wheels. Yes you can paint them later on or most likely change the wheels. But over all I like the angular look and shape. The size reminds me actually of the Tiguan. perfect crossover size for city driving.
Brought this guy over at Cubao Expo
Bells and Whistles:
The Tharu has all features that you would look for in a modern day car. Apple carplay, a big Touch screen, digital gauges, 360 Cameras and the like. But the biggest difference especially compared to Japanese counterparts is how these functions are executed.
The 360 Camera was really good. Resolution is very clear, and it was nice to be able to see different kind of views depending on what the situation requires. The infotainment was also snappy. And the menu was functional and easy to use. Some infotainment systems especially Japanese and Chinese cars tend to be overly complicated and functions will require you to dive deep in the menu system. Volkswagen has been known to be simple to operate and the same applies for the Tharu. Functions are easy to access when needed and intuitive.
And yes the capacitive buttons will need getting used to, but they don't are not prone to accidental presses. Usually when you've set your stuff you wont really need to fiddle with them anyways,
The 360 camera really came in handy. with the big touch screen, it helped me navigate tight spaces, especially in Cubao. The option to use different views were a plus as well!
yep, get used to the capacitive buttons. They do give haptic feedback
Yes LEDs all around. except for the plate light! weird haha
How was the drive?
Overall drive was really good. Had more power than the T-cross. Effortlessly drives fast on command and will not bore you on the twisties. The transmission performed well, no lags since it's a dual clutch unit. The transmission is geared towards fuel economy tho, so no aggressive downshifting, but it's way better than the usual CVT the market is being bombarded with on most vehicles. Very smooth, not jerky to drive even on "stop and go" traffic conditions.
Suspension is very comfortable. It's firm like how the Germans like their suspension, and you feel that the car is very solid to drive. The car is very predictable, linear and that added boost kick makes it fun to drive.
Driving visibility is great as well. The ride height gives you a good view of the road and there are no noticeable blind spots. Even the rear windshield is huge and gives good view of the rear unlike most crossovers. Very easy to drive and definitely will give you a lot of confidence. I also like how they implemented the blind spot warning. Instead of putting them on the glass, having a big lamp on the side mirrors themselves makes it very visible to the driver. The Auto folding side mirror function is also a big plus. Seeing the side mirrors folded when car is locked confirms to the driver the status of the vehicle.
Summary:
Compared to the T-cross, here are the most noticeable differences
- Bigger Size: Bigger trunk Space
- Punchier Turbo Engine
- 360 Degree Camera
- Capacitive Buttons all around
- Finally, an interior roof handrail
- Automatic Tailgate
- LED Passenger interior dome lights
- Full Leather interior (the interior of the white Tharu is better)
- 360 Parking Aid / Auto Parking
- Auto Folding Mirrors with Blind Spot Monitor
- a better Steering Wheel
Is this car for you?
If you're a current owner of a T-cross, this may be a good upgrade as it has all the things I wished the T-cross had. But if you're expecting a big size jump from the T-cross, it's not much. (although the boot space is a lot bigger) If you're contemplating on what to get between the two, I would definitely push for the Tharu as it's got all the functionality high end Volkswagens have.
If you're comparing this with different brands like Ford Territory, Peugeot 5008, Kia Seltos, Honda HRV and the like, I would suggest giving this guy a test drive. Yes it looks deceivingly smaller but the interior space can compete with the other brands. Don't just compare based on spec sheets, sometimes the test drive will help you decide which one is for you. The overall driving dynamics might sway you towards a Tharu.
Review by Ed Araga
VW Fan Boy
Cubao Expo is a good place to visit for some quick bites and quiet stroll in the afternoons